A Season of Sabbath: Brian Flatgard Sabbatical June 27–August 9

The Grand Canyon Synod gives thanks for a season of sabbath and renewal as Brian Flatgard, Director of Communications, takes a sabbatical from June 27 through August 9, 2026.

As a synod, we believe healthy ministry includes healthy rhythms of rest. Sabbath is a gift — a time for renewal, reflection, curiosity, and returning refreshed for the work God calls us to do together.

Brian’s sabbatical will be spent primarily in Japan, combining family time, exploration, writing, and renewal. The first part of the journey will include travel with his daughter, followed by time for reflection and exploration across Japan, time with longtime friends, and later travel with family. The sabbatical will conclude with several days in Hawai‘i before returning home.

Throughout the sabbatical, the synod’s regular communications rhythm will continue. Weekly Friday newsletters at 8 a.m., blog posts, and Facebook updates will continue throughout the summer, though readers may notice a somewhat lighter publishing schedule during this time.

To help prepare for six weeks of scheduled communications, congregations, ministry partners, rostered ministers, and synod leaders are encouraged to submit any news, announcements, events, or stories for possible inclusion by June 15 whenever possible.

Importantly, the Grand Canyon Synod remains fully prepared to communicate throughout the summer. We have a strong communications continuity plan in place, including staff and trusted partners familiar with our publishing systems who are ready to update web content and communications as needed. Established crisis communication protocols remain active, and the Office of the Bishop will continue to communicate directly with rostered leaders through email as needed.

In a typical year, Grand Canyon Synod communications include thousands of blog and social media posts, weekly newsletters reaching nearly 2,000 engaged Lutherans across Arizona, southern Nevada, St. George, Utah, and the Navajo Nation, and ongoing storytelling designed to connect congregations and ministries across our synod.

We give thanks for the systems, shared leadership, and faithful colleagues that make sabbath possible. We look forward to welcoming Brian back in August, renewed and ready to continue the work of communicating Jesus, connecting people, and creating possibilities together.